[TamilNet, Friday, 21 September 2018, 15:31 GMT]The Divisional Secretariat of Koa'ra'laip-pattu South in the district of Batticaloa is under increased pressure to convert 550 acres of pasture lands traditionally used by the dairy farmers into agricultural areas. The lands are being allocated to the supporters of Vinayagmoorthy Muralitharan, alias Karuna, a former Tiger commander, who turned into a paramilitary leader operated by the Sri Lanka Army in the East and later a politician, who has been collaborating with the Rajapaksa establishment.

The Secretary of Dairy Farmers Association in Kiraan and Chengka'ladi, Mr Nimalan Kanthasamy said the Agrarian Development Officer of Kiraan has already allocated the lands according to the controversial move despite sharp opposition from the dairy farmers.

The latest encroachers, who have political connections, have also gone to the extent of violently confronting the dairy farmers at the presence of the administrative officials, he said.

The area, which has been seized is known as Paalai-vedduvaan and has 550 acres of pasture lands and a pond, which is frequented by the cattle, Mr Nimalan further said.

The Tamil dairy farmers were earlier confronting large-scale colonisation attempts by the Sinhala encroachers who were backed by the extremist monks targeting Sinhalicisation of the Tamil homeland. Now, the same system is deploying the war-time divide-and-rule tactics, which seek to re-introduce the colonisation schemes that are put on hold, the dairy farmers in Koa'ra'laip-pattu North said.

They also allege the District Secretary and the Divisional Secretary for siding with the encroachers.